Visiting Scholarships (residential, 3 to 12 months)

The Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG), Berlin, Department III: Artifacts, Action, Knowledge, directed by Prof. Dr. Dagmar Schäfer, offers several

to take place within the period from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023.

We invite scholars to apply for participation in the working group “Agriculture and the Making of Sciences (1100–1700)” of Department III. The working group explores how agricultural practices informed scientific, technological, and medical change from the twelfth to seventeenth centuries, with special focus on the study of extra-European contexts. The working group’s research theme changes annually, and in 2022–2023 it will focus on the annual theme of “water”. We welcome researchers working on agricultural practices related to water, such as irrigation, water harvesting, construction and maintenance of waterworks, or water management. Their research should address the question of how these practices contributed to the development of pre-modern sciences studying water, especially how they were in relation to fields of knowledge and practices other than agriculture.

We welcome applications from candidates in every field within history, the history of science and technology, archeology, philology, and art history, and with some preference for research that is multilingual and transregional in nature.

Visiting scholars receive a stipend commensurate with experience for their period of residence, and reimbursement for a return ticket to and from their place of residence.

The successful candidates are expected to take part in the scientific life of the Institute, to advance their own research project, and to actively contribute to the working group activities during their period of residence.

Candidates are requested to submit:

1. a cover letter (indicating your preferred period of residence)
2. curriculum vitae (including a list of publications)
3. a research prospectus on a topic related to the project (1,000 words maximum)

Applications must be submitted in German or English via our online application portalvia the apply button. 

Please note that only complete electronic submissions uploaded to this link will be accepted. Applications sent via e-mail will not be accepted. Only successful candidates will be notified.

Review of applications will commence from 1 June 2022 and continue until the working group’s capacity is full or until 31 March 2023, whichever is earlier.

The Max Planck Society strives to foster an inclusive environment for all. As an institute, MPIWG encourages applications from individuals regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, and/or disabilities, particularly where underrepresented in our community. Visit these webpages to learn more about MPIWG’s policies toward gender equality and recruitment practices for persons with disabilities.

For research-related questions about the working group and Department III, please contact Chun Xu (cxu@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de); For administrative questions concerning the scholarship and the Institute, please contact Rand El Zein (relzein@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de). For technical questions regarding the application portal, please contact the Department secretary Karin Weninger (kweninger@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de).

Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
Boltzmannstraße 22
14195 Berlin, Germany